Prior is shaky in return

Mark Prior’s return answered his own questions about his arm, but created some about his effectiveness. Kerry Wood’s comeback was far more reassuring to the Chicago Cubs.

Prior, who missed most of 2006 during a third consecutive season of injuries, started for the first time since August. He gave up three earned runs and got just four outs before Manager Lou Piniella pulled him from the Cubs’ 6-5 exhibition win over Seattle on Monday at Peoria, Ariz.

“I just wasn’t finishing my pitches,” Prior said. “The most important thing for me is this is the first time in almost 2 1/2 years I wasn’t more worried about my arm than facing batters.”

But Wood was dominant. Throwing 95-mph fastballs and sliders, he retired the Mariners in order in the fifth. The Cubs’ former ace is trying to come back as a reliever after shoulder surgery on Aug. 31, 2005.

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Gary Sheffield brought his strong opinions back to Legends Field, predicting a big year for former New York Yankees teammate Alex Rodriguez and saying he never thinks about making the Hall of Fame.

“Alex is going to have the best year he’s had since he’s been here,” Sheffield said before the Detroit Tigers lost to the Yankees, 6-5. “I think what he did, he stood up, that’s going to get him over the top because he expressed how he really felt.”

Sheffield needs 45 homers to reach 500, which would help his Hall of Fame chances.

“Not important at all,” Sheffield said. “The best wasn’t allowed to play this game for a lot of years. So all the best players ain’t in the Hall of Fame. That’s what I’m saying. Not all of them.”